Murshidabad ZP chief’s cover revoked

Behrampore: The West Bengal government has withdrawn the

security

it provided to Murshidabad zilla parishad sabhadhipati Mosharaf Hossain Mandal, leaving the Trinamool leader “clueless” on why it happened.

The sabhadhipati, who enjoys minister of state status, wrote to the chief minister and the governor, which was followed by a sharp response from Raj Bhavan.

On Wednesday, Mosharaf Mandal said: “I got to know the state’s decision after I couldn’t get in touch with my security personnel Shamim Mandal on Monday night while I was preparing to return home after a meeting. The other securityman, Sisir Pramanik, is sick and on leave. I rang the superintendent of police, who told me my security had been withdrawn. He couldn’t tell me the reason. It’s insulting and I feel let down.”

The development comes after he shared the dais with rebel leader and transport minister Suvendu Adhikari at a condolence meeting at Margram on Sunday, held in memory of zilla karmadhyaksha Mafizuddin Mandal, who died of Covid. This apart, the Madhu fan club (Mosharaf’s nickname) had pasted posters all across Behrampore in support of Suvendu. “What’s wrong in printing posters in favour of, or sharing dais with Suvendu Adhikari, who is a Trinamool senior and transport minister?” Mosharaf said.

The sabhadhipati was conspicuous by his absence from the Saturday meeting called by Trinamool district president and Murshibad MP Abu Taher Khan. Khan announced he would complain against the two prominent absentees — the sabhadhipati and saha sabhapati Baidyanath Das — to party leaders in Kolkata.

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar ticked off the state government for the sudden withdrawal of security. “Security withdrawal to Murshidabad zilla parishad president actuated by political demeanor is serious issue as there can be no quid pro quo for security cover. Such actions by West Bengal Police are indicative of deep politicized working that is unconstitutional,” Dhankhar tweeted on Wednesday.

Congress’ Adhir Chowdhury too condemned the security withdrawal, pointing out that the Left Front government had done the same to him.